Clippers confirm they're taking Griffin at No. 1

[SuperNova854]

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700037252#

LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers are taking Blake Griffin. Yes, everyone knew that already, but this morning assistant general manager Neil Olshey officially let the worst-kept secret on the West Coast out of the bag.

“We made the decision in June of 2008,” Olshey said.

That’s when Blake decided to go back to Oklahoma for his sophomore season. The consensus collegiate player of the year -- he averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds -- is at the top of every team’s draft board.

“We saw the same things the other 29 teams in the league see,” Olshey said.

What they see is a 6-foot-10, 250-pound power forward who’s physical, has an expanding skill set, can play both ends of the floor and multiple positions along the frontline.

That frontline is crowded. Al Thornton, Zach Randolph, Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby and last year’s rookie big man DeAndre Jordan already man the 4 and 5 spots. Are there enough minutes to go around or is a trade in the works to free up time for the future No. 1 pick?

“I’m sure Mike Dunleavy is sitting on his flight from Spain going over those scenarios,” Olshey said of the Clippers coach who was overseas scouting probable second pick Ricky Rubio. “Obviously, we strengthened a strength last night with getting Blake. Maybe there’s some adjustments we have to make, but right now we have to catch our breath.”

Olshey said several players, including Baron Davis and Randolph, texted him last night after the ping-pong balls popped up the Clippers’ way. They were swept up in Blakemania.

“The guys follow the game,” Olshey said. “They know how good the guy is.”

Also...

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/59279/20090520/dunleavy_were_taking_griffin/

Mike Dunleavy has saved Clippers' fans and the NBA from a lot of drama over the next month.

"Clearly, we're taking Blake Griffin," Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said in a telephone interview from Barcelona, Spain.

"This guy is the No. 1 pick. We're extremely excited. He's the guy."

 

[OKCL]

Shocker.

 

[mfbmike]

Randolph, Camby, Kaman, Jordan, Griffin.

What a clusterfuck in the frontcourt.

 

[Juggernaut]

fuck...yet everyone saw it coming

 

[j.hen]

NOOOO!!!!

 

[LC AAU]

Well, I know peoples new bandwagon team next year on 2k10

 

[FlawLeSs]

Well, I know peoples new bandwagon team next year on 2k10

they still not really a threat...

 

[Yawkey Way]

MUST START 2K10 CHISE

wait just kidding they still will suck.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Guaranteed atleast one of those bodies is gone this off-season.. if not 2. The Clippers were trying hard to move Kaman last year but the injuries made it tough. They'd ideally like to trade Randolph too, but it might prove a little difficult. But if Griffin's willing to come off the bench for a year, or Zach is (unlikely) it could work out. But guaranteed one of those 4 big men is gone this off-season, probably not Camby.

 

[SuperNova854]

Yea Kaman is likely the odd man out. I still think the Clippers should trade the pick for a star SF

 

[.RoCkEtS1]

Not surprising at all.

 

[mfbmike]

Yea Kaman is likely the odd man out. I still think the Clippers should trade the pick for a star SF

what the fuck? For how much you rant and rave about how good thornton is, why would you want them to trade for an SF?

 

[Awesometrax]

It's obvious that Sterling thinks very little of Al Thornton so don't be too surprised if they attempt to trade him. Ideally they should get rid of Randolph as well, this way you have Camby and Griffin at the 4, and then Kaman and Jordan at the 5.

And yes, I realise that Donald Sterling is a fucking moron, but I'm just throwing out that possibility.

 

[ryne candy]

I hope they move Jordan to a team who will actually use him.

I don't feel sorry for that fool. He listened to too many "yes" guys and went to early to the draft. As far as Blake....it was nice knowing him.

 

[SuperNova854]

what the fuck? For how much you rant and rave about how good thornton is, why would you want them to trade for an SF?

I have never "ranted and raved" about thornton. Besides Thornton is way too inconsistent to start. hes better off being 6th man

 

[SuperNova854]

I hope they move Jordan to a team who will actually use him.

Its not the Clippers fault nobody wanted him in the 1st round. So stfu

 

[Deviant]

Lottery was RIGGED! Looks like Marcus Camby is out of L.A. because that's his number.

 

[SuperNova854]

yea when I saw that i was like bye bye Camby. You were my favorite Clipper next to Gordon this year.

 

[ralaw]

“We made the decision in June of 2008,” Olshey said

Uh, that's not really a good thing to say. What about the 2008-2009 season or did the Clippers just know they were going to suck?

6-foot-10, 250-pound power

Griffin isn't 6'10........looks closer to 6 foot-7 or 8.

 

[mfbmike]

Just a rumor here...

Leave it to the Clippers to be conflicted by the No. 1 pick. Blake Griffin is a power forward, and Los Angeles currently is paying power forward Zach Randolph $33.3 million through 2011. Center Chris Kaman is on the books for $34 million through 2012, and Marcus Camby has one year left at $7.6 million. Meanwhile, in the backcourt sits the $60 million white elephant known as Baron Davis, whose return to Los Angeles was an unmitigated disaster. The Clippers wouldn't have minded sending Davis back to Golden State (which reportedly is eager to have him back) and pairing Rubio with Eric Gordon. That said, Griffin is a franchise-altering talent, and those don't come around often. The Clippers have to focus on moving the talented but troubled Randolph. No way does Mike Dunleavy want to risk tainting Griffin with any of Randolph's bad habits. Plus, because the two play a similar style, they wouldn't mesh well. The problem is, the Clippers aren't going to have much leverage.

Baron back to Golden State? :rofl: